Blogger MetroFanatic speaks with Alfonso Mondelo, the MLS director of player programs and a former head coach of the MetroStars, about young players turning away from MLS. MF points out that former Metro youth player Gabriel Ferrari was recently scooped up by Serie A club Sampdoria. Since he's no longer directly involved at the club, Mondelo has little to say on that specific instance, however, as director of player programs, it is his duty to be worried about such things.

Mondelo is in charge of MLS's centralized scouting network, which serves as a resource for the league's teams. The department is also charged with the not inconsiderable task of making MLS's professional youth development initiative work under the current landscape of youth soccer in America.

Mondelo also discusses the new standards MLS has implemented with the creation of the youth development initiative. Each MLS club is required to provide the program's players with full-time coaching attention and an appropriate number and standard of games. While some teams, like New York, have had a youth system in place for many years, youth development players won't be allowed to play in the first team until the beginning of the 2008 season. Read the original story...